Autosport’s technical expert runs the rule over the runners and riders

Mercedes Mercedes W08

The F1 benchmark once again starts the season as favourite, but the new challenges of 2017, and pre-season testing, suggest it may not be quite as easy for the Silver Arrows as the team chases a fourth straight crown

Starts148

First GPFrance 1954

Wins64

Poles73

Fastest Laps47

20161st

When you’ve won all but eight races during a three-year period, there are very good reasons for that – so there’s no doubt Mercedes is favourite going into this season. It has the budget, a three-time world champion driver, a strong power-unit package and technical strength in all areas. But no team is perfect, and the car I saw in testing appeared to have a slight understeer problem and may not have the kind of advantage that Mercedes has been used to.

Valtteri Bottas

Red Bull Red Bull RB13

Red Bull ended last year on form, and the new regulations for 2017 seemed perfect for the title-winning team to move back to the front. But initial signs have been underwhelming – is there more to come?

Starts224

First GPAustralia 2005

Wins52

Poles58

Fastest Laps52

20162nd

The worry is that it could be the same old story this year for Red Bull – a good car let down by a Renault engine that isn’t quite up to the mark. I’m still expecting to see more aerodynamic developments on the car for the Australian Grand Prix, but even then it looks like Red Bull isn’t going to be in as strong a position as everyone had hoped over the winter.

Max Verstappen

Ferrari Ferrari SF70H

After being one of the biggest disappointments of 2016, Ferrari was one of the success stories of pre-season testing. Now it’s time to prove it can do more than just win the 'winter world championship'

Starts928

First GPMonaco 1950

Wins224

Poles208

Fastest Laps237

20163rd

What we saw from Ferrari during testing was very encouraging. The car looked superb on track, good under braking, on turn-in, mid-corner, and there were no obvious traction problems on corner exit. There’s no doubt that, after a very difficult 2016, a good step has been made. The question is: is it enough?

Kimi Raikkonen

Force India Force India VJM10

This efficient squad has its work cut out to maintain its giant-killing level of performance, but there’s no reason to think it can’t once again be near the front of the battle behind Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull

Starts171

First GPAustralia 2008

Best finish2nd

Poles1

Fastest Laps4

20164th

After climbing to fourth in the championship last year, the team’s hopes should be to keep moving forward, but the reality is that Force India isn’t going to be in a position to challenge the big three this time.

It’s in the thick of the battle for fourth place and if it can hold on to that, and perhaps even close the big points gap to the top three, then that will be a very good return for a team operating on limited resources. But judging from testing that won’t be easy, with so many teams in that midfield battle.

Esteban Ocon

Williams Williams FW40

The famous team appears to have built a solid performer for the new regulations, but is the driver line-up strong enough given how close the midfield battle for points is likely to be this season?

Starts646

First GPSpain 1977

Wins114

Poles127

Fastest Laps131

20165th

After making a great step forward last time the rules changed in 2014, Williams has slowly slid back from sometimes giving Mercedes something to think about to being in the midfield. This rule change is not as big, but getting the best from these bigger Pirelli tyres will be no easy feat. While it’s clearly not up there with the big three, Williams is still looking strong in the battle for fourth.

Felipe Massa

McLaren McLaren MCL32

Hopes that the McLaren-Honda partnership was gradually moving towards the front appear to have been dashed by poor pace and reliability in testing. And it seems the engine isn’t the only problem

Starts801

First GPMonaco 1966

Wins182

Poles155

Fastest Laps153

20166th

McLaren hasn’t always been delighted by my criticism of its progress, but all I can say is look at the performance of the car in testing. The fastest lap was 2.714 seconds off the quickest, there were too many technical problems and on track it didn’t look like a good car with a bad engine – it looked like it wasn’t very good all-round. So there are clearly problems on McLaren’s side as well as Honda’s.

Fernando Alonso

Toro Rosso Toro Rosso STR12

Red Bull’s ‘other’ team has switched back to Renault power for 2017 and produced arguably the best-looking car for the new rules as it strives to move forward again after a difficult end to last year

Starts206

First GPBahrain 2006

Wins1

Poles1

Fastest Laps1

20167th

Red Bull’s second team has been doing a good job in recent years on limited resources, and its major weakness from last season – using a year-old engine – has been eliminated. That said, the move from Ferrari to Renault power may bring its own problems.

Carlos Sainz

Haas Haas VF-17

That tricky first season was dealt with very well by the new American team last year. Now things get really tough, but the signs are that Haas will be in the mix of the intense midfield battle

Starts21

First GPAustralia 2016

Best finish5th

Best qualifying7th

Fastest Laps0

20168th

Doing well in your first season, when you’ve been able to focus completely on your car in the build-up to coming into F1, is one thing. But being able to deliver a good car in the second year, on which you have to do all the work while trying to get the best out of your existing machine, is a far bigger challenge.

Kevin Magnussen

Renault Renault RS17

The first year of Renault’s return as a constructor was always going to be tough and the expectation is for a big improvement this season. Early signs are encouraging and Nico Hulkenberg should be a real asset

Starts321

First GPGreat Britain 1977

Wins35

Poles51

Fastest Laps31

20169th

Last year was a strange one for Renault, with the late takeover meaning that it was never going to be a strong season. It made sense to just let 2016 go and focus on ’17 as the real first campaign for this ‘new’ Renault team. It’s on this year that we can judge the effectiveness of the work done in ’16.

Jolyon Palmer

Sauber Sauber C36

New investment saved Sauber last season and now the rebuilding process begins. Initial indications are that its new challenger is solid but unspectacular, which could leave it at the back

Starts421

First GPSouth Africa 1993

Wins1

Poles1

Fastest Laps5

201610th

On the one hand, Sauber is a team that’s rebuilding after some difficult years now it has new investment from Longbow Finance, so you have to make some allowances. On the other, it’s made questionable choices.

Marcus Ericsson

Pascal Wehrlein

Last year's position

19th

Age

22

Starts

21

First GP

Australia 2016

Best Finish

10th

Best Qualifying

12th

Fastest laps

0

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